In an age of microwave hits and shameless gimmicks Troy Donald Jameson remains one of hip-hop’s few complete artists. The MC, Producer and singer known as Pharoahe Monch first connected with fans in the mid 1990s as a member of Organized Konfusion. Along with his partner Prince Poetry, the native of Queens, NY released several critically acclaimed albums including their self-tiled debut and Stress: the Extinction Agenda. After their third project, Equinox, Pharaohe and Po amicably parted ways and became solo artists.
Well respected for his mind-bending content and unorthodox delivery Monch signed with Rawkus records and in 1999 released the classic, Internal Affairs. On the strength of the literally monstrous lead single "Simon Says" (which sampled the theme music to Godzilla) Pharaohe Monch scored a club and radio hit commanding all within earshot to "get the fuck up!" The infectious follow-up "The Light" confirmed that Monch was a gifted star in his own right capable of vacillating between lyrical gymnastics and impassioned harmonizing with equal aplomb.
His debut on SRC/Universal Records, Desire, is an uncompromising mix of everything that is Pharaohe that will prove palatable to diehards and newcomers alike. Led off by the Black Milk produced, “Let’s Go” Pharoahe proves that even seven years later he is still in fighting form. “They researched my stem cells, cloned ten of me/sent one of them back in time just to get rid of me/stop Pharaohe Monch from having verbal epiphanies/ now that’s new definition to your own worst enemy…”
There is more than a grain of truth to his wit, because Pharoahe is challenged with satisfying a diehard fan base with a long memory. The biggest hurdle to his return is the high standard he as has set for himself.
Pharoahe Monch homepage
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